Material handling apparatus



June 20, 19 50 H. JAFFA ET AL v 2,512,333

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

/\/E/\/7'O/QS HA/QQ JAFFA W/LL/AM JA H304 5v 45 LE TORNEY June 20, 1950 FIE 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1948 H. JAF F A ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY JAFFA W/LL/AM JAFFA ATTORNEY June 20, 1950 H. JAFFA ET AL 2,512,333

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS June 20, 1950 H. JAFFA ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1948 FIE 5 .A A m mm RA AL HW ATTO/Q/VEY June 20, 1950 H. JAFFA ETAL 2,512,333

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 //\/-\/E/\/7 ORS HAQQY JAFFA W/LL/A/V/ JAFFA B 7d. Q I

ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED" STATES H PATENT OFFICE Harry J afia, Detrit,.Mich., and WilliamJafia,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Application September 18, 1948, Serial No. 49,936 18 Claims; (Cl. 21 l--75) f-ul for the purpose-rot transporting. lumber, concrete, etc., commonly known: as. straddle carriers.

An object oil the: inventionxis to provide material handlingiapparatusa of the kind mentioned which. will be? of satisfactory, practical; efficient; new andimprovediconstruction.

A further object? is torprovide a straddle car rier;. sou-called, wherein be incorporated various desirable. and. improveduieatures: and characteristics novelilboth as individual entitiesoi the carrier andzin' combination with each other.

And a. further. object is; to provide material handling apparatus. structure as hereinafter set forth devi'sedrtobe. capable.'of transporting lumber, concrete; etc;, ina novelancl improved mannen.

With the above objects in View, as well as others which will appear as the specificationproseeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement andi combination of partsas now towbieJful'ly' described; and. as hereinafter to be specifically claimed; it being understood that the. disclosure hereinbisomcre'ly illustrative and intended in no alimting sensa. changes in details; of constructiom and arrangement of parts being permissible aselong as withinthe spirit of the invention arrdxthe scopeoi the. claims which follow.

In.theaccompanyingwdrawings-fiorm-ing a part a or this specification;

Fig- 1 Lisa perspective'view or a material hand'ling. apparatusr made according: tothe invention as whenconstitutedfas trailer; the view also disclosing a: truck with which the trailer is assembledj Fig.1 2 is an/Lenl'arged fragmentary perspective View disclosing the-deft side portion of the trailer of Fig. l as it would appear from the-right side incsaidw 1', 'butuwith parts cliliierent positions:

Fig. 3 is a reanview, partially inflectionand pastialllybrokemaway; ou 3; scale larger than Fig. l and smaller-then Fig. 2:, of the trailer 01"; said Fig; It aswhcnfsupporting aload Fig: 4: sna detaiksectionalview, taken on line 1-41mm? gr..2;.

Fig; 5 is; a detail. sectional. view; taken substantially onzlinefi fi-irr Fig; 2;. but showing parts of the trailer, including a supporting arm thereof, in difilerent positions-arm es when. said trailer supporting a. load, the view-also disclosing a lbadtobe supported Fig. 6 is 1 fragmentary perspective: view disnection withvehicles other thanttrailers.

2. closing supporting arms of modified construction which can be employed in a material handling apparatus including features and characteristics of the invenitom. and also disclosing elements Withwhich said: supporting arms are assembled;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View detailing parts or the disclosure of Fig. 6;,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view disclosing supporting means of further.- modified construction adaptedgto be; employed a material. hand-ling apparatus made according, to the invention, and also: disclosing elements with which said supporting means is assembled;

Fig. 9' is a fragmentary-rear elevational view, corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig 5, of parts of. a trailer equipped supporting means oi the character as'clisclosed" in Fig. 8; the view also disclosing, insection, a sup ported load and a. load to be supported; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View, corresponding generally with the 1 disclosure of Fig. 9, disclosing parts oli the supporting means-as. in said Fig. 9 in different'positions.

In the disclosure as made; and? referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, thematerial handling apparatus is constituted as; a trailer. l5 detachably assembled with a truck: 16.: It is to be under stood, however, that features and characteristics of the invention can. be applied to use in con- That is, material. handling apparatus made according to the invention. can be constituted: as. self-propelled vehicles in. instances when. considered. desirable. A preferred form of theinvenstionis disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

The. trailer I5 is constituted as a rectilinear body open at its lower portion save for spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally. extending beams H, H. at the opposite sides. of saidtrailer, and also open at its front and rear. Rearward portions of the longitudinally extending. beams H, H are, respectively, supported, as at it, upontanclem wheels [9,. [9, there being. a set of tandem wheels at each of the opposite sides oi the. trailer,

the forward portions of said longitudinally extending beams upon the truck IS in ordinary or preferred manner. The dolly wheels 2!, 2| will be vertically adjustable, in a manner forming no part of the present invention, and will be lifted clear of the ground, as in Fig. 1 of the drawings, when the trailer is assembled with a truck. The dolly wheels can be adjusted downwardly, according to usual practice, to cause the yoke piece 22 to be elevated to above its position of assembly with a truck, and then adjusted upwardly, after fixed relative to the upper cylinders 3| the rear of the truck has been properly situated set forth, both when said upper cylinders are beneath said yoke piece, first to allow assembly of the yoke piece with the truck and eventually v allel, upright side walls 23, 23, rigid with and v extending vertically upwardly from the exterior edges of the longitudinally extending beams I1, ll, respectively, and a horizontally disposed roof or top wall 24, rigid with and spanning the distance between upper portions of said side walls 23, 23 in considerably spaced, parallel relation to said longitudinally extending beams. Stated otherwise, the longitudinally extending beams I 1, I! are disposed interiorly of lower portions of the spaced apart side walls 23, 23 and are situated beneath opposite side marginal portions of the roof or top wall 24.

The rear end of one of the side walls 23 supports spaced apart rungs 25, as'does also the front end of the other side wall, by means of which workmen can readily position themselves upon the roof or top wall 24. Also, each of the spaced apart side walls supports a collapsible platform 23, disposed exteriorly of the trailer, for the convenience of workmen, and the roof or top wall 24 suitably and conveniently supports removable stanchions 21 and rope receiving eyes 28 which can be employed to anchor articles to be transported upon said roof or top wall.

Each of the longitudinally extending beams ll supports a, plurality, four as shown, of spaced apart, parallel, vertical lifting devices, each denoted 29. Each vertical lifting device 29 includes lower and upper, telescoping cylinders, represented 39 and 31, respectively, and a vertical elevating bar 32 parallel to said cylinders and mounted on said upper cylinder for rotative movement,

The lower cylinder 39 of each upright lifting device 29 has its closed lower end rigidly supported, as at 33, upon the upper surface of the corresponding longitudinally extending beam l1, and the upper cylinder 3| of each upright lifting device is telescoped upon and about the corresponding lower cylinder in fluid tight manner and for relative rotative movement of said upper and lower cylinders, as indicated at 34. The upper end of each upper cylinder 3| is closed, as denoted at 35, and the vertical elevating bar 32 of each vertical lifting device is supported upon the upper cylinder of the corresponding lifting device through themediumj of upper and lower ears, designated 33. and 3'1, respectively, integral or rigid with the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said upper cylinder.

The vertical elevatingbar 32 of each upright lifting device 29 is cylindrical, and the upper and lower ears 33 and 3! upon each upper cylinder 38 include annular openings which snugly, rotatably receive the corresponding vertical elevating bar. the upper end portion of each vertical elevatin bar 32 above and below and contiguous with the corresponding upper ear 36, preclude longitudi- Collars, denoted 38 and 39, fixed upon nal movement and permit rotative movement of each vertical elevating bar within and relative to said corresponding upper ear, and dollars, indicated 49 and 4!, fixed upon an intermediate portion of each vertical elevating bar above and below and contiguous with the corresponding lower ear 3?, preclude longitudinal movement and permit rotative movement of each vertical elevating bar within and relative to said corresponding lower ear 3?. While the vertical elevating bars 32 are to be movable therewith as a unit, in a manner to be moved vertically and rotated, said vertical elevating bars are, at the same time, situated within the uper and lower ears 3B and 31 to be capable of having rotational movement within and relative to said upper and lower ears, as well as relative to the upper clylinders 3 I.

A lower end portion of each of the vertical elevating bars 32 is disposed below the lower ear 3? on the upper cylinder 31 of the corresponding vertical lifting device 29, at a side of the corresponding lower cylinder 39, and the lower end of each of said vertical lifting bars rigidly retains a horizontal supporting arm 42 situated at the side of the corresponding vertical lifting bar opposite the corresponding lower cylinder.

The lower end portion of each vertical elevating bar 32 rotatably supports an annular member 43 which rests upon the corresponding supporting arm 42 in such manner as to permit relative rotative movement of the annular member and the supporting arm, and collars 44, fixed on the vertical elevating bars above and in contiguous relation to the annular members 43, preclude, together with the supporting arms beneath the vertical elevating bars, movement of said annular members longitudinally of said vertical elevating bars.

Spaced apart, parallel guard rails at the opposite sides of the trailer l5 are designated 45, 45. Each of said guard rails 45 is rigidly supported by and disposed interiorly of the annular members 43 at the corresponding side of said trailer above and in adjacent relation to the supporting arms 42 at the same side of the trailer. The guard rails extend longitudinally of said trailer and are disposed in a single horizontal plane, and all of said supporting arms likewise lie in a single horizontal plane. The construction and arrangement are such that the vertical elevating bars 32 can be rotated within and relative to the annular members 43 to cause the supporting arms 42 to be rotated relative to said annular members and the guard rails while the annular members at each side of the trailer retain said guard rails so that they are disposed longitudinally of said trailer and in parallel relation to each other.

The upper cylinder 3i of each vertical lifting device 29 is disposed interiorly of and in adjacent relation to vertically spaced, horizontally disposed strengthening beams 46, 46 at the opposite sides of the trailer and extending longitudinally thereof, and the lower strengthening beam at each side of said trailer supports guide rollers 47, one for each upper cylinder 3|, disposed interiorly of the upper cylinders, between said upper cylinders and the vertical elevating bars 32. Each guide roller 41 is made rigid with the strengthening beam by which supported through the medium of bracket members 48. In addition to the guide rollers, the lower strengthening beams support guide elements 49 for the upper cylinders 3| sitloweran'osti sessio as in Fig. 2, permitted or caused by relief of'pressure within the lower and upper cylinders 30., and 3|, Will be rotated relative to-their corresponding lower cylinders, by actuation of the pistons 55 in the manner as hreinbefore "set forth, to cause the supporting arms to-be moved to position as in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and', beneath oppositely disposed portions of theload to be'lifted. Thereafter, the vertical elevating -bars32with supporting arms 42 can be 'elevated, in response to pressure of fluid applied in the lower 1 and upper cylinders 35 and 31', and transported to a, location where to be deposited. Deposit of "a'load at a desired location can-be accomplished by reversal of the operations just described. When one or less than the whole number of sections in a stack is to be picked up and transported, or deposited, the operations as set forth will be carried out, except of course that the vertical elevating bars 32 with supporting arms 42 will be first actuated to the appropriate elevation, above the lowermost posh tion" in which the vertical elevating bars and supporting arms are shown inFig. 2, and then actuated from load free to load pick up position, or from load pick up to load free position as the case may be. In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the verticalelevating'bars and supporting arms are disclosed as'when situated to pick up an upper section from a'lower section of materials or articles, or to deposit the upper section upon the lower section.

The manner in which the upper cylinders 3!, together with the vertical elevating bars 32 and the supporting arms 42, are elevated in response to the application of fluid under pressure to the interior spaces ofthe lower and upper cylinders 30 and 3!, as well as the manner in which said upper cylinder and vertical elevating bars and supporting arms become depressed by gravity upon relief of pressure of fluid in said upper and lower cylinders, will be obvious.

With the introduction of fluid pressure into the cylinders 54 at the left of the pistons 55, the actuators 51 will be caused to move to the right as seen in Fig. QThis will cause the horizontal actuator rods' 59 to move in the same direction. Said actuator rods, by reason 'of their pivotal connections at 52 to the actuator collars 50, will cause the elevating bars 32 to be rotated. The construction and arrangement of parts is such that when the actuator rods 59 have caused the actuating collars and the elevating bars to be rotated through 90 degrees, said actuator rods will ride against the elevating bars and thereby prevent iurtherrotation of said elevating bars. Rotation of the elevating bars 32 is efiective toswing the supporting arms 42 from their-alined positions as in the drawings to positions ,where substantially alined with the longitudinally extending beams l1, [1. With movement of the pistons 55 to the right as seen in Fig. 4, after the elevating bars 32 are precluded from further rotation about their own axes, the actuators 51 will cause the actuator rods" 58 to be further moved to the right. This movement will cause the actuator collars 65, the elevating bars 32, the cars 35 and 3! andLthe outer cylinders 3| to revolveas a unit about the inner cylinders 32. This revolution about the inner cylinders causes opposite annular members 43 and guard rails 45 attached thereto to move away from each other. The actuators 5! are jointed at thier midportions a-s denoted at 61-, to allow the actuator rods 59, to m'ove away from each other andcloser to 8, the strengthening beams 45 in -response to revolution of the collarefifl with the elevatingbars 32 about theinner cylinders 30.

With the introduction of fluid pressure into.

the cylinders 54 at "the right of the pistons 55,

the actuators 51 will be caused to move to'the.

left as seen in Fig.4 and will cause the actuator rods 59 to move in the same direction.

This-causes the collars 60, the vertical elevating'bars 32, the ears 36 and 31 and'the outer cylinders 3! tobe revolved bodily about the innercylinders,3ll thus moving the guard rails 45 in direction toward each other. This movement of the actuator rods 59 to the left in Fig.4 also causes the actuating collars 60 and the elevating rods 32 to berotated about the axis of said elevating rods to cause the supporting arms 42 to move from positions where alined with beams H, I! to positions: as shown in the drawings;

The construction and arrangementof parts is such that When the cars 36 and 31. and the supporting arms 42 are at right angles to the beams I1, [1, the actuators 51 .are at the left limits of their travel.

It is a function of the guard rails, 45, '45 to square-up materials or articles which may be protruding when the supporting arms are actuated from load releasingto load pick up condition, as well as to preclude lower portions of a load from shifting sidewise of the trailer.

Although the'vertical elevating bars 32 and supporting arms 42' can be retained by fluid under pressure in the lower and upper cylinders 30 and 3| to support a load, alternativemeans for' retaining said vertical elevating bars and supporting arms in load supporting position can.

be employed. In Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, means for retaining the vertical elevating bars andsupporting arms in load supporting position; as when a load is to be transported, is disclosed? as shelves '68 situated beneath said supporting arms and removably secured in openings 69 in the side walls 23, 23 of the trailer l5.

In Figs. 6 and '7, supporting arms 42', equivaported and operated in the same manner as said vertical elevating bars 32 and 32', support bracket elements 13 situated at the lower ends of saidverti-cal elevating bars 32*. Guard rails 45155, equivalentto the guard rails 45, 45, are supported upon the vertical elevating bars 32' and 32 in the same manner as said guard rails 45, 45 are supported upon the vertical elevating bars 32, 32, except that one of the guard rails 45 is above the supporting brackets 13.

The disclosure of Figs. 6 and 7 is to illustrate that allof the supporting arms can be on the vertical elevating bars at a single side of the desirably will be supported upon thebracket elements 13.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, 32 denotes vertical elevating bars equivalent to the vertical elevating .75 bars 32andsimilarly operated, and 42 indicates The supporting arms 42. have supporting arms equivalent to the supporting arms wand similarly operated. Also in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in saidFigs. 8, 9 and I0, annular inembers 43 and guard rails 45 are equivalent to the annularwmeinbers 4'3 and the guard rails 15.

Each guard rail 45' hingedly supports a 1011- gitudinalliy extending, collapsible ledge 15secured to the lower edge portion of the guard rail and disposed at the mterior side thereof. Each collapsible ledge 15 is constituted as a'plurality of hingedly connected stripslfi.

The supporting arms 42 are adapte'd' selec tively to be swung interiorly to position beneath the collapsible ledges 15 thus "to su port said collapsible ledges in perpendicular relation to the guard railsll't asih Figs. 28 and 9, or 'tolbe swung to positionexterioi' and clear-of the'c'olla sible ledges thus to permit said collapsible ledges to be released, as in Fig. '10.

The collapsible ledges 75, retaindby supporting arms 42 in perpendicular 'iel'ation to t-he guard rails 45 at the interior side's ofsaid guard rails, are adapted to supportthe loa'dyan'd to release the load as in Fig. when said supporting arms 42 are removed from benea'th said ledges 15, the hingedly' con'neeted "strips of said collapsible ledges will fall by gravity thus tocaus'e the collapsible ledges to be clear "of the load. When said supporting arinsIZ are actuated from lead released to load supporting position of the collapsible ledges 15,-thehingedly connected-strips T6 of said collapsible ledges will be r lrogressiv'ely swung upwardly, the outermost Iiing-edly connected strip first, until all of said conneotedstrips are in a single horizontal plane.

"What is claimed is:

1. Material handlingapparatus comprising "a frame including spaced apart sicl'e members and open at its lowerportion between said side members, wheels supporting said fram'e situatedclear of its open lower portion, lifting devices upon-said frame at the opposite sidesth'ereof, spaced-apart guard rails at the opposite sides of saidfram'e carried by said liftingde'vices and extending longitudinally of the frame, sup orting elements carried by lifting devices upon at least oneside of said open lowerportion, means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said guard rails and said supporting elements selectively to be raised or lowered in unison while the guard rails and the supporting elements, respectively, are maintained in the same horizontal plane with said guard rails above and adjacent to said supporting elements, and means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said guard rails to be moved awayfrom and toward each other and the supporting elements to be moved relative to "said frame independently oi the position of vertical adjustment of the lifting device's selectively tocause'said-'supporting elements to be moved in unison'to poshtion beneath or clear "of the open lower portion of said frame and the guard rails to be moved toward each other'withmovementof the supporting elements to position beneathsaid open lowergpor tion: and away from 'eaohother with movement of said supporting elements to position clear of the openlower portion.

2. :Material handling apparatus comprising a frame including spaced apart side members and openat itslower portion between saidlside mem- 'b'ers, wheels supporting said frame situated at the opposite sides and clear of its open lower portion, lifting :devices upon said frame at the opposite 'sid'esand 'clear of tits open lower portion, spaced. apart g'uard rails "at the 'opposite sides of said frame carried :by and disposed interiorly of said liftingidevicesand extending longitudinally of the frame, supporting elements :carried by lifting devices upon 'atleast one side ofrsaid open lower portion; means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said guard rails and :said supporting elements selectively to beraised orsloweredl in :unison while the guard rails and the supporting elements, respectively, ar rnaintained in the same horizontal 1 plane with said supporting elements below and adjacent to said guard rails and to :be stably situated :at any elevation to which adjust'ed, and means for actuating said lifting de' vices to cause said fguard rails to be moved away from and toward each other and'the supporting elements to be moved-relative to :said frame independently of theposition of verticakadj us'tment of the lifting cdevicesfseleotively tocause said supporting elements *to bemove'd in unison to position beneath or clear '01 the open :lowerportion of said' frame Iand'there retained and-the guard rails to be moved toward each other with :movement of the suppoitingelements to positicnheheath "said open lower portion and away from each otherwith movement of said supporting elements'tolpositionolear of the .op'enlower portion.

3.'Materi'al 'Ihandling apparatus "comprising a frame includingsspaced apart side members and open at its lower portion betweenisaidlside members, wheels supporting said frame situatedw'at theopposite sides and clear of its open lower portion, lifting devi'ces upon l sai'duframe at' the opposite sides and clear of its open lower "portion, spaced apart "collapsible .Lledges at the opposite sides of said frame oarried shy and disposed interior'ly of -s'a'id liftingixievi'ces and extending longitudinally of the frame, supporting elements carried by said lifting devices and disposed below and adjacent to said collapsible ledges, means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said collapsible ledges andtsaid supporting elements selectively to lee raised or lowered in unison while the collapsible ledges and the supporting elements; respectively, are malntained in the same horizontal plane and to ibexstably 'situated at any elevation to which adjusted, and means "foraotua'tin'g saidlifting devices to cause said :supportingelements tobe moved relative to said frame independently of 'thezposition of 'vertical adj ustment of the lifting l'devices selectively to cause the supporting elements to be moved in unison to position "beneath 'or clear "of the open lower portion of-said'frame and there retained and the collapsible ledges to be moved to horizontal position beneath said open lower portion in response to movement "of said supporting elements to position beneath the open lower portion and released formovement toward vertical position clear of said open lower portion with movement of the-supporting elements to position clearof the open-lowerportion.

4. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame including s'paced apart side members and 11 open at its lower portion between said sidemembers, wheels supporting said frame situated at. the opposite sides and clear of its open'lower portion, lifting devices upon said frame at the. opposite sides and clear of its open lowerportion, spaced apart guardrails at the opposite sides, of said frame carried by and disposed interiorly .of: said lifting devices and extending longitudinally of the frame, collapsible ledges. carried by and disposed interiorly of lower portions of said guard rails,supporting elements carried byisaid lifting devices and disposedbelowand adjacent to said collapsibleledges, means for actuating said lift, ing devices to cause said guard rails, said collapsible ledges and said supporting elements see lectively to be raised or lowered in unison while the guard rails, the collapsible ledges and the supporting elements, respectively, are maintained in the same horizontal plane and to be stably situated at any elevation to which adjusted, and means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said guard rails to be moved away from and. to-.- ward eachother and the supporting elements to be moved relative to said frameindependently of the position of vertical adjustment of the lifting devices selectively to cause the supporting elements to be moved in unison to position beneath or clear of the openlower portion. of said frame and there retained, the guardrails to be moved toward each other with movement ofthe supe porting elements to positionbeneath said open lower portion and away from, eachother with movement of said supporting elements to position clear of theopen lower portion, and the 001-, lapsible ledges to be moved to horizontal posi: tion beneath-said open lower portion in response. to movement of said supporting elements. to po-. sition beneath the open. lower portion and-,,re-, leased for movement toward verticalv position clear of 'said open lower portion with movement of the supporting elements .to' positionclear of the open lower portion. .i

5. In material handling, apparatus, a vertically disposed lower cylinder, asupport for said lower cylinder, a vertically disposed upper cylindertelee scopedwith said lower cylinder for longitudinal and rotative movement, a vertical elevatingbar rigidwith said upper cylinder dlsposedat aside of the lower and. upper cylinders, a supporting element rigid with said vertical elevatingbanan actuator element in which said vertical elevating bar is mounted for longitudinal movement and fixed 'againstrotative movement, meansfor gforcie bly moving said upper cylinder, in, directionaway from said lower cylinder, and meansfor operat-, ing said actuator, element to cause said upper v cyla inder to be rotatively moved relative to said lower cylinder. p

6. In material handling apparatus, a vertically disposed lowercylinder, aisup-port for saidlower cylinder, a vertically disposed upper cylinder telescoped with said lower cylinder for longitudinal. and rotative movement, a vertical elevating bar rigid with said upper cylinder disposed at aiside of the lower and upper cylinders, a supporting element rigid with said vertical elevating bar, an

actuator element in which said vertical elevating bar is mounted for longitudinal movement and fixed against rotative movement, hydraulicallya actuated means .for forcibly moving said upper cylinder in direction away from said lowercylin-g der adapted to be operated to release the upper cylinder to be moved by gravityr toward therlower cylinder, and hydraulically actuated means .fcr

operating said actuator element to cause said .up:.

perv cylinder to be rotatively:moved relative to said lower cylinder selectively in opposite directions. 1 e g. 7. In material; handling, apparatus,- spaced apart, verticallyv disposedolowercylinders, a support for said lower cylinders, .a vertically disposed upper cylinder telescoped with each of said lower cylinders for yIongitudinal and rotative movement, a vertical elevating bar rigid with each of said upper cylinders disposed at a side of the corresponding lower and upper cylinders, a supporting element rigid with;-each of said vertical elevating bars, 'an actuator rod, actuator elements secured to said actuator rod and in which said vertical elevating bars are mounted for longitudinal movement and fixedagainst rotative movement, means for forcibly moving said upper cylinders in direction away from'said lower cylinders, and means for imparting longitudinal movement to said-actuator rod to cause each of said upper cylinders to be rctatively moved relative to its corresponding lower cylinder.

8. In material handling apparatus, spaced apart, vertically disposed lower cylinders, a support for said lower cylinders, a vertically disposed upper cylinder telescoped with each of said lower cylinders for longitudinal and rotative movement, a vertical elevating bar rigid with each of said upper cylinders disposed at a side of the conesponding lower and upper cylinders, a supporting. element rigid with each of said vertical elevating bars, an actuator rod, actuator elements secured to said actuator rod and in which said vertical elevating bars are mounted for longitudinal movementandfixed against rotative movement, hydraulically actuated means for forcibly moving said upper cylinders in direction away from said lower cylinders adapted to be operated to release the upper cylinders-to be moved by gravity toward the lower cylinders, and hydraulically actuated means forimparting longitudinal movement to said actuator rod to cause each of said upper cylinders to be rotatively moved relative to its, correspondinglower cylinder selectively in o pposite directions; 9. The combination as specified in claim '7, anda guard rail situated adjacent tosaid supporting elements and supported upon said-vertical elevating bars for rotative movement of the vertical elevating bars relative to saidguard rail. 10(The combination as specified in claim 8, and a guard rail situated adjacent to said supporting elements at the side of said vertical elevating bars opposite said lower and upper cylindersand supported upon thevertical elevating bars for rotative movement of said vertical ele-' ating bars relative to said guard rail.

11.,In material handling apparatus, spaced apart, verticallydisposed lower cylinders, a sup port for said lower cylinders, a vertically disposed upper cylinder telescoped with each of said lower cylinders for longitudinal movement, supporting elements mounted to move with said upper cylinders in vertical direction and to swing on a pivot in a horizontal plane, means for forcibly moving said upper cylindersin direction away from said, lower cylinders, and means for swinging; said, supporting elements to and from a load engaging and a load clear position. i

12. In material handling apparatus, spaced apart, verticallydisposed lower cylinders, a sup upper cylinders disposed at a side of the corresponding lower and upper cylinders, a supporting clement rigid with each of said elevating bars, an actuator rod, actuating elements secured to said actuator rod and in which said vertical elevating bars are mounted for longitudinal movement and fixed against rotative movement, means for forcibly moving said upper cylinders in direction away from said lower cylinders, and means for imparting longitudinal movement to said actuator rod to cause each of said supporting elements to be revolved about its corresponding vertical elevating bar.

18. In material handling apparatus, spaced apart vertically disposed lower cylinders, a support for said lower cylinders, a vertically disposed upper cylinder telescoped with each of said lower cylinders for longitudinal movement, a vertical elevating bar rotatably mounted on each of said upper cylinders disposed at a side of the corresponding lower and upper cylinders, a supporting element rigid with each of said elevating bars, an actuator rod, actuating elements secured to said actuator rod and in which said vertical elevating bars are mounted for longitudinal movement and fixed against rotative movement, first hydraulically actuated means for forcibly moving said upper cylinders in direction away from said lower cylinders adapted to be operated to release the upper cylinders for movement by gravity toward the lower cylinders, and second hydraulically actuated means for imparting longitudinal movement to said actuator rod to cause each of said supporting elements to be revolved about its corresponding vertical elevating bar.

14. The combination as specified in claim 12, and a guard rail situated adjacent to said supporting elements and supported upon said vertical elevating bars for rotative movement of the vertical elevating bars relative to said guard rail.

15. The combination as specified in claim 13, and a guard rail situated adjacent to said supporting elements at the side of said vertical elevating bars opposite said lower and upper cylinders and supported upon the vertical elevating bars for rotative movement of said vertical elevating bars relative to said guard rail.

16. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame including spaced apart side members and open at its lower portion between said side members, wheels supporting said frame situated clear of its open lower portion, lifting devices upon said frame at opposite sides thereof, supporting elements mounted on said lifting devices on at least one side of said lower portion for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said supporting elements selectively to be raised and lowered, and means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said supporting elements selectively to be pivoted to position beneath and clear of the open lower portion of said frame.

17. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame including spaced apart side members and open at its lower portion between said side members, wheels supporting said frame situated clear of its open lower portion, lifting devices upon said frame at opposite sides thereof, supporting elements mounted on said lifting devices on at least one side of said lower portion for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, means: for actuating said lifting devices to cause said supporting elements selectively to be raised and lowered in unison while being maintained in the same horizontal plane, and means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said supporting elements selectively to be pivoted to position beneath and clear of the open lower portion of said frame.

18. Material handling apparatus comprising a frame including spaced apart side members and open at its lower portion between said side members, Wheels supporting said frame situated clear of its open lower portion, lifting devices upon said frame at opposite sides thereof, spaced apart guard rails at opposite sides of said frame carried by said lifting devices and extending longitudinally of the frame, supporting elements mounted on said lifting devices on at least one side of said open lower portion for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said guard rails and said supporting elements selectively to be raised and lowered in unison while the guard rails and supporting elements, respectively, are maintained in the same horizontal plane with said guard rails above and adjacent to said supporting elements, and means for actuating said lifting devices to cause said supporting elements selectively to be pivoted to position beneath and clear of the open lower portion of said frame.

HARRY JAFFA. WILLIAM JAF'FA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,429,974 Rogers Sept. 26, 1922 1,488,267 Meyers Mar. 25, 1924 1,609,018 Gerlinger Nov. 30, 1926 2,201,189 Makaroff et a1 May 21, 1940 2,259,558 Evans Oct. 21, 1941 2,369,838 Minnis Feb. 20, 1945 2,404,898 Aycook July 30, 1946 2,410,965 Dimick Nov. 12, 1946 

